Middle Kingdom Family Portrait

Family portrait featuring a male and two female figures. The man wears a plaited wig that is shoulder length. His ears are oversized, something that was seemingly ‘in fashion’ of the time in depictions of the human form. He wears a lengthy skirt or shenydt that wraps around him just above his hip, his hands are resting upon his knees as he strides slightly forward.

The women are wearing what is dubbed a “Hathor wig”, which the goddess Hathor is often seen depicted in, which is somewhat similar to the shape of cow horns, the animal Hathor is mostly associated with. The pair have similar large ears, and both wear the same style of strap dress that falls to just above ankle length. From the back view of this piece you can see the beautiful detailing of the wigs, and how they would be parted. The back of the hair falls along the back of the women, where the two ‘pig-tail’ bunches are pushed forward and rest upon their collar bones giving the “Hathor wig” style.

Inscription

[Translation] A mortuary offering [granted by the king, and composed of] bread, beer, oxen, and fowl for the Ka [i.e., the creative and sustaining life power] of […] -Sobek […] born of Dedet-Sobek and [for] Aw, born of Senet.

Interestingly, Dedet-sobek was the name of a female royal family member, she held the title “King’s Sister”.

Summary:

Family portrait featuring a male and two female figures
Middle Kingdom, 12th Dynasty, c. 1850-1800 B.C.
Walters Art Museum. 22.349